Single-trigger fire mechanism for double-barrel guns



20, 1929- E. MILLER 1,725,663

SINGLE TRIGGER FIRE MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE BARREL GUNS Filed March 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuemto'a Elm/E1122! Aug. 20,1929. E. E. MILLER 1,725,663

SINGLE TRIGGER FIRE MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE BARREL GUNS Filed March 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuentoc Elmer Ellfz'l er Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

T E T is ELMER E. MILLER, OF MILLEBSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed March 17, 1928.

This invention relates to single trigger fire mechanisms for double barrel guns and has for an importantobject thereof an improvement of the structure shown in my prior patent, No. 1,54%,678, issued July 7, 1925, for single trigger fire mechanisms for double barrel guns, to simplify the construction shown in this patent and to provide a novel and readily included locking mechanism for preventing operation of the trigger at any time.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide in combination with those single trigger'firing mechanisms employing an oscillatable weight actuated by the discharge of the gun or by succeeding events to lock the trigger against a second operation means whereby this oscillatable weight may be moved to its locking position to effect a locking of the trigger, replacing the lock ordinarily provided by the safety catch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a single trigger mechanism, particularly intended for use where one barrel of the gun is to be initially fired under all circumstances and which may be employed for initial firing of either barrel.

A further and still more specific object of the invention is to provide the combination with a trigger mechanism in which the trigger has mounted thereon a weight which is positioned by the rebound of the gun from the shoulder of the shooter following the recoil occasioned by an exploding charge to engage beneath a stop which will prevent elevation of the trigger, causing firing of the second barrel of the gun, of a means operable from the exterior of the lock for manually shifting this weight beneath the stop shoulder, so that the gun is placed on safety and an accidental discharge cannot be effected.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gun lock including anti-doubling and safety mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, the parts being shown in the position which they assume when the hammers are cocked and the gun is ready for firing;

Serial No. 262,389.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing the parts in the position which they assume after the gun is fired;

Figure 3 is a View similar to that shown in Figure 1 showing the position of the parts zvhen the device is moved to the safe posi-' ion;

Figure 4c is a horizontal sectional View through the lock;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View through the lock showing the parts in the position which they occupy when the hammers are cooked and the barrel is ready for firing;

Figure 6 is a similar View showing the position of the parts after operation of the right hand sear and with this sear engaged against the trip to force the same beneath the left hand sear;

Figure 7 is a similar View showing the movement of the right hand sear completed and the trip positioned to fire the left hand sear;

Figure 8 is a detached enlarged side elevation of the control weight;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation of the member attached to the lock to provide the stop shoulders for the control cam and the mounting for the trip spring. Y

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a shot-gun breach mechanism including an upper tang 11 and lower tang 12. This lower tang is provided with the usual opening 13 through which operates a trigger 14, the upper end of the trigger being in the form of a plate 15, the forward end of which projec-ts between upstanding ears 16 carried by the lower tang 12 at the forward end of the opening 13. This trigger plate includes a tail portion 17 extending rearward over the tang 12 beyond the rear edge of the opening.

The numeral 19 designates the usual hammer and 20 the pivoted sears coacting therewith. These sears have the usual forward ends 21 urged upwardly by springs 22 for engagement with shoulders'23 to maintain the hammer 19 in cocked position. In accordance with my invention, the under surface of the hammer, immediately forwardly of this shoulder, is ground or otherwise reduced to provide a cove 24 in which the for ward end 21 of the scar 22 engages after the hammer is released, this cove being of sufficient depth to cause the rear end of the sear 20 to be depressed after the hammer is operated. These rear ends of the sears 20 are provided with angularly disposed portions 25 overlying the trigger plate 15.

Immediately below the angular portions 25, the trigger plate is provided with a cove 26 within which is pivoted a sear trip 27 upon a pivot 28 extending longitudinally of the trigger. The trip 27 is pivoted at its lower end and has its upper end in the form of a cam 29'having downwardly sloping sides for a purpose presently to appear. The inner lower edges of the angular portions 25 of the sear are preferably slightly beveled, as at 30. The lower end of this sear trip is provided with a transversely directed wing 31 overlying the lower tang 12 at the sides of the trigger opening 13. V

Arranged rearwardly of the rear end of the tail of the trigger is a vertical standard 32 extending longitudinally of the tang 12. At its upper end at one side thereof the standard 32is provided with transversely directed flanges 33 and 34 confronting the lower tang 12, these flanges having their adjacent edges spaced from one another to provide an opening 35, the purpose of which will presently appear.

At the opposite side, the plate has secured thereto the rear end of alight spring 36, the forwardend of which engages the-sear trip 2'? and constantly urges this trip in a direction such that the wing 31 engages against the tang 12. The wing 31 can be disposed at either side of the seartrip 27, so that this sear trip may be positioned by the spring beneath either of the scars 20 for initial operation thereof. In the present illustration, the wing 31 has been illustrated as at the right hand side ofthe sear trip and the spring as moving the sear trip beneath the right hand sear, so that the right hand barrel will be initially operated. Associated with the rear end of the trigger plate 17 in a manner hereinafter more fully set forthis a spring 3?, which tends to keep the end of the trigger elevated. It will be obvious that as the trigger elevates, the sear trip 27 may tilt further to position beneath the angular portion 25 of the sear. Accordingly as the gun is cooked and the rear end of the sear is elevated, permitting the trigger to elevate, thesear trip 27 will assume its-position beneath the right hand sear for operation thereof. A pull upon the trigger will cause operation of this sear and of the hammer associated therewith. 7 As soon as the hammer is operated, the spring 22 of the sear will cause the rear end of descend, so that it will bear against the cam face upon the upper end of the sear trip, wed'ging the sear trip over beneath the other of the sears for operation thereof. A second the sear to again pull will now cause operation of the *second hammer.

Associated with this mechanism is an inertia operated weight 38, the purpose of which is to prevent an accidental operation of the trigger upon rebound of the gun from the shoulder of the shooter following the recoil of an exploded charge. This weight is pivoted to the trigger tail at 39 and has a front face 40, the lower end of which is straight and coacts with the rear edge of the flange 34 to limit forward movement of tie weight. At the lower end of this front face is an upwardly facing shoulder 41 which, by its engagement beneath the flange 34, limits upward movement of the trigger. The upper end of the front face provides an upwardly or rear-v wardly angling or curving surface 42, the purpose of which will presently appear.

The rear face 43 of the weight parallels the portion 40 and is spaced therefrom a distance slightly less than the distance between adjacent edges of the flanges 33 and 34, so that this weight may move upwardly through the opening 35 when the front face ofthe weight is engaged against the rear edge of the flange 34. Adjacent its upper end, the weight is reduccd in thickness, providing a shoulder 44, the forward edge of which is slightly more remote from the pivotal connection 39 of th weight to the trigger than the rear edge thereof. This shoulder, when the trigger is lowered to a predetermined degree,'may passbeneath the forward edge of the flange 33. It will be obvious that during rebound operations, as the trigger is being forced downwardly by the operated sear, this shoulder may pass beneath thisfiange and since the weight is pivoted and the gun is at this time moving away from the shoulder of the shooter, the weight Willmove by inertia to place the shoulder 44 beneath the flange, so that if the finger engages the trigger and moves it upwardly, this shoulder will engage'the flange 33 solidly, looking the trigger against further movement. The locking will continue as long as the finger continues to press upon the trigger, but will be released immediately if the finger is disengaged from the trigger, due to the fact that this 1 Weight is connected by the spring 37 with the flange 33 and this spring tends to constantly throw the weight forwardly and upwardly and to maintain the front face of the weight in engagement with the rear edge of the flange 34.

The numeral 46indicates the usual slide provided upon the upper face of the upper tang ll and employed to put the gun in safe or ready positions. 1 In accordance with my invention, the'tongue 47 provided upon the lower face of such plates =is'emp'loyecl toattach thereto a spring strip 48, which extends longitudinally of the upper sear 11 and is provided at its forward end with a depending portion 48, the l'ow'er rear face of which is formed as its forward position, does not in any way interfere with the movements of the weight 42 and permits operation of the gun in the usual manner. lVhen it is moved rearwardly, however, the cam face 49 coacting with the cam face 42, wedges the weight 38 downwardly and rearwardly from the position of Figure 3 to the position of Figure 2, with the result that the shoulder 44 is forced beneath the forward end of the flange 43. It will be obvious that if at this time the trigger is engaged, no operation of a sear can take place, as the trigger will be positively held against upward movement.

By employing a construction of this character, the cost of a lock embodying the single trigger mechanism and rebound control may be very materially reduced, as it eliminates the necessity for devices such as the pivoted levers shown in my prior patent hereinbefore referred to, for locking the triggers against operation and employs in its stead a normal portion of the trigger mechanism.

It will also be obvious that while I have illustrated this locking feature as employed with a trigger mechanism, such as shown in my prior patent, it may be readily adapted to practically any single trigger mechanism employing an oscillatory control weight as a means for preventing double firing. I do not, therefore, limit myself to the specific structure hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

1 claim 1. The combination with a single trigger for actuating the scars of a double barrel gun and an oscillating weight pivoted to the trigger and positioned by the operation of the gun following the discharge of a charge therein to engage beneath a portion fixed with relation to the lock and thereby prevent accidental operation of the trigger, of means upon the exterior of the lock for manually shifting the weight to its trigger locking position.

2. The combination with a single trigger for actuating the sears of a double barrel gun and an oscillating weight pivoted to the trigger. of a shoulder rigidto the gun lock beneath which said weight may position under the infiuence of rebound following the recoil of a fire charge to lock the trigger against a second operation and a spring normally positioning said weight and trigger to prevent engagement of the weight beneath the shoulder, of means upon the exterior of the lock for shifting the trigger to a position permitting movement of the weight beneath the shoulder and subsequently shifting the weight beneath said shoulder to thereby lock the trigger against movement.

3. The combination with a single trigger for actuating the sears of a double barrel gun and an oscillating weight pivoted to the trigger, of a shoulder rigid to the gun lock beneath which said weight may position under the influence of rebound following the recoil of a fired charge to lock the trigger against a second operation and a spring normally positioning said weight and trigger to prevent engagement of the weight beneath the shoulder, of a member shiftable upon the exterior of the lock and bearing a member at the interior of the lock having a cam face for coaction with said weight forcing the weight and trigger to a position permitting the weight to move beneath said shoulder and subsequently moving the weight beneath the shoulder.

4. The combination with a single trigger for actuating the sears of a double barrel gun, of a weight pivoted to the trigger and oscillatable longitudinally of the lock, a member fixed to the lock and having a flange beneath which the Weight may position to prevent operation of the trigger to actuate the scars, means normally yieldably holding the weight against movement to said position and means operable from the exterior of the lock for shifting said weight beneath said shoulder.

5. The combination with a gun having a sear and a pivoted trigger for operating the same, of a member pivoted to the trigger, a fixed stop upon the lock of the gun beneath which the member may be positioned to prevent operation of the trigger to actuate the sear and means operable from the exterior of the lock to ,shift said member into engage ment with said stop.

6. The combination with a gun having a sear and a pivoted trigger for operating the same, of a member pivoted to the trigger, a fixed stop upon the lock of the gun beneath which the member may be positioned to prevent operation of the trigger to actuate the sear, means operable from the exterior of the lock to shift said member into engagement with said stop, and means normally maintaining said member out of alignment with ,said stop, said member moving by inertia to a position beneath the stop upon discharge of a barrel of the gun to lock the trigger against operation during rebound.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ELMER E. MILLER. 

